Control valve assembly

ABSTRACT

A control valve assembly includes a valve body having inlet and outlet ends, and an endless valve seat therebetween. A clapper disk is pivotably mounted within the valve body, and is pivotable between a sealingly closed position and an open position according to a pressure differential across the clapper disk. A U-shaped arm is rotatably supported in the valve body, and rotatable between a first position, wherein a bight of the U-shaped arm is positioned out of an operational range of movement of the clapper disk such that the clapper disk is freely movable between the open and closed positions thereof, and a second position, wherein the bight of the U-shaped arm engages and maintains the clapper disk in the sealingly closed position thereof. A selectively rotatable control arm operatively coupled with the U-shaped arm and utilized to move the U-shaped arm between the first and second positions thereof.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of similarly titled U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 15/298,758, filed Oct. 20, 2016, which claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/244,444, titled“Multipurpose Modular Valve Assemblies”, filed on Oct. 21, 2015, theentire contents of each of which are incorporated by reference herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to fluid flow valves and, for example, tovalves typically used to monitor and control water released todownstream sprinklers of fire suppression sprinkler systems.

Codes typically require fire suppression sprinkler systems designed forprotection of commercial and non-commercial properties to include atleast a check valve, a control valve and a flow switch. The mostcommonly used water flow detector switch (or simply “flow switch”) forwet fire protection sprinkler systems employ a flexible paddle or vane.The flow switch is mounted to a length of pipe with the paddle extendedacross the flow path, the paddle being displaced by water flowingthrough the pipe. In installation in water supply systems, such flowswitches are similar to valves having ends of the pipe configured forattachment between other lengths of pipe and/or with adjoining valve(s)or other sprinkler system component(s). Such flow switches are availableindividually from various commercial suppliers, each mounted in its ownconduit, typically iron or steel, which are stacked together duringinstallation of such sprinkler systems. The largest sprinkler systemvalves (eight inches or more in diameter) typically weigh severalhundred pounds with their conduits and accessories. The resulting stackscan be very large, very heavy and relatively expensive.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly stated, one aspect of the present invention is directed to afire protection system. The system comprises at least one control valveassembly comprising a valve body having an inlet end, an outlet end, andan endless valve seat therebetween. A clapper disk is pivotably mountedwithin the valve body and is pivotable between a closed position and anopen position according to a pressure differential across the clapperdisk. The clapper disk is in sealed engagement with the valve seat inthe closed position thereof and is spaced away from the valve seat inthe open position thereof. A U-shaped arm is rotatably supported in thevalve body, and is rotatable between first and second positions. In thefirst position, a bight of the U-shaped arm is positioned out of anoperational range of movement of the clapper disk such that the clapperdisk is freely movable between the open and closed positions thereofaccording to the pressure differential across the clapper disk. In thesecond position, the bight of the U-shaped arm engages and maintains theclapper disk in the closed position thereof irrespective of the pressuredifferential across the clapper disk. A selectively rotatable controlarm operatively coupled with the U-shaped arm moves the U-shaped armbetween the first and second positions thereof. The system furthercomprises a wet standpipe, the inlet end of the valve body being fluidlyconnected with the standpipe; and at least one sprinkler downstream ofthe at least one control valve assembly, the at least one sprinklerbeing fluidly connected with the outlet end of the valve body.

Another aspect of the present invention is directed to a control valveassembly comprising a valve body having an inlet end, an outlet end, andan endless valve seat therebetween. A clapper disk is pivotably mountedwithin the valve body and is pivotable between a closed position and anopen position according to a pressure differential across the clapperdisk. The clapper disk is in sealed engagement with the valve seat inthe closed position thereof and is spaced away from the valve seat inthe open position thereof. A U-shaped arm is rotatably supported in thevalve body, and is rotatable between first and second positions. In thefirst position, a bight of the U-shaped arm is positioned out of anoperational range of movement of the clapper disk such that the clapperdisk is freely movable between the open and closed positions thereofaccording to the pressure differential across the clapper disk. In thesecond position, the bight of the U-shaped arm engages and maintains theclapper disk in the closed position thereof irrespective of the pressuredifferential across the clapper disk. A selectively rotatable controlarm operatively coupled with the U-shaped arm moves the U-shaped armbetween the first and second positions thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The following detailed description of a preferred embodiment of theinvention will be better understood when read in conjunction with theappended drawings. It should be understood, however, that the disclosureis not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a front elevational view of a modular valve assembly of apreferred embodiment of the present invention, configured as astop-check type control valve;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the modular valve assembly of FIG.1;

FIG. 3 is a right side elevational view of the modular valve assembly ofFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a top plan view of the modular valve assembly of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a partial, cross-sectional elevational view of the modularvalve assembly of FIG. 1, taken along sectional line 5-5 of FIG. 1, witha clapper of the valve assembly in a fully opened position;

FIG. 6 is a partial, cross-sectional elevational view of the modularvalve assembly of FIG. 1, taken along sectional line 5-5 of FIG. 1, withthe clapper in a manually closed position by a positioner of the valveassembly;

FIG. 7 is a partial, cross-sectional elevational view of the modularvalve assembly of FIG. 1, taken along sectional line 5-5 of FIG. 1, withthe clapper in a closed position due to pressure differential across theclapper;

FIG. 8 is a partial, cross-sectional elevational view of the modularvalve assembly of FIG. 1, taken along sectional line 5-5 of FIG. 1, withthe clapper in a partially opened position;

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of the positioner and an actuator of themodular valve assembly of FIG. 1 without the valve body, in the openposition of the clapper; and

FIG. 10 is a perspective view of the positioner and the actuator of themodular valve assembly of FIG. 1 without the valve body, in the closedposition of the clapper.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Certain terminology is used in the following description for convenienceonly and is not limiting. The words “lower,” “bottom,” “upper” and “top”designate directions in the drawings to which reference is made. Thewords “inwardly,” “outwardly,” “upwardly” and “downwardly” refer todirections toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center ofthe modular valve assembly and designated parts thereof, in accordancewith the present disclosure. Unless specifically set forth herein, theterms “a,” “an” and “the” are not limited to one element, but insteadshould be read as meaning “at least one.” The terminology includes thewords noted above, derivatives thereof and words of similar import.

It should also be noted that the terms “first,” “second,” “third” andthe like may be used herein to modify various elements. These modifiersdo not imply a spatial, sequential, or hierarchical order to themodified elements unless specifically stated. It should also beunderstood that the terms “about,” “approximately,” “generally,”“substantially” and like terms, used herein when referring to adimension or characteristic of a component of the invention, indicatethat the described dimension/characteristic is not a strict boundary orparameter and does not exclude minor variations therefrom that arefunctionally similar. At a minimum, such references that include anumerical parameter would include variations that, using mathematicaland industrial principles accepted in the art (e.g., rounding,measurement or other systematic errors, manufacturing tolerances, etc.),would not vary the least significant digit.

Referring to the drawings in detail, wherein like numerals indicate likeelements throughout, there is shown in FIGS. 1-10 a preferred embodimentof a modular control valve assembly, generally designated 1110. In thepresent embodiment, the control valve assembly 1110 is usable in thewater supply portion of a fire protection sprinkler system upstream fromthe sprinklers. For example, in a multi-floor building sprinkler system,a wet standpipe 1 (shown schematically in FIG. 5) extends verticallythrough each of the floors, with a control valve assembly 1110 branchingoff of the wet standpipe 1 at each floor. A control valve assembly 1110is positioned within each respective floor to control water flow fromthe wet standpipe 1 to the downstream sprinkler(s) 2 (also shownschematically in FIG. 5) on that floor, to allow the sprinkler system tobe drained for testing and maintenance and to shut off the water flow atthe end of an actual fire. As should be understood by those of ordinaryskill in the art, however, the control valve assembly 1110 may also beemployed in other wet systems as well as in dry systems.

The valve assembly 1110 includes a valve body 1112 having an inlet end1114 with an inlet opening 1115 and an opposing outlet end 1116 with anoutlet opening 1117. In the illustrated embodiment, either end 1114,1116 has an outer peripheral groove for mating in a conventional fashionwith other fittings or pipe lengths. Alternatively, however, the endsmay be threaded, flanged or the like, for other types of conventionalmating. An opening 1113 is provided in the sidewall of the valve body1112 to receive a control mechanism indicated generally at 1140 (FIGS.9, 10). In the illustrated embodiment, four threaded bores are alsoprovided into the valve body 1112. One bore 1138 (FIG. 4) receives awater flow switch assembly indicated generally at 1170. Another bore1136 (FIG. 2) receives an input/upstream pressure gauge 1182. A thirdbore 1134 (FIGS. 2, 4) receives an output/downstream pressure gauge1184. The fourth bore 1132 (FIG. 2) receives a valve test/drain assemblyindicated generally at 1190. The valve test/drain assembly 1190 isrequired for performance tests and drainage of the valve and includes asimple on/off valve 1192 in a pipe 1194 connected to the bore 1132 onthe upstream side of a clapper disk 1122 (discussed further below) nearthe bottom of the clapper chamber of the valve body 1112. It will beappreciated that any and all of the four threaded bores can be locatedelsewhere circumferentially about the valve body 1112 and above or belowtheir indicated positions to perform their intended function. Forexample, bore 1136 may be located 180 degrees from its indicatedposition on the other side of the body for easier access. As should alsobe understood, the valve body 1112 may include more or less than fourbores, and any unused bores may be sealed, e.g., via a plug.

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, each pressure gauge 1182, 1184 is connected tothe interior of the valve body 1112 through a valve 1186. Three way ballvalves 1186 are suggested having OFF (no orifice), TEST (restrictedorifice) and OPERATION (full open orifice) positions but simple two-way,on (full orifice)/off and test (restricted orifice)/off valves may beused instead, in sequence. Instead of an elbow 1188 to each separategauge 1182 or 1184, a Tee may be substituted so that another pressuregauge (neither depicted) might be connected with the upstream and/ordownstream side of the valve body 1112 for independent pressure testingof the valve and/or calibration of the existing gauges 1182, 1184. Oneof the two output sides of the Tee would be plugged when an additionalgauge is not being provided.

Still referring to FIGS. 1-4, a valve actuator assembly 1150 includes atransmission 1152 (shown schematically in FIGS. 9, 10), e.g., aconventional, commercially available, worm gear transmission, in ahousing 1154 with a control arm 1155 rotatable by a hand wheel 1156connected thereto. The transmission 1152 provides a relatively largereduction ratio, for example sixty-to-one, for reasons that will becomeapparent.

Turning to FIGS. 5-8, details of the internals of the valve body 1112are shown. An endless, preferably annular, valve seat 1120 is providedwithin the valve body 1112, extending around an inner circumferencethereof, to mate with the clapper disk 1122. The opening 1113 (withremovable cover plate 1160 as explained further below) is provided inthe side wall of the valve body 1112 to assist in installing the valveseat 1120 and/or the clapper disk 1122 and for future inspection,maintenance and/or repair after installation.

The clapper disk 1122 has a metal body 1123 pivotally mounted on a pin1124. A molded, flexibly resilient skirt 1128 of a conventional materialsuch as EPDM is attached to the metal body 1123 facing the input end1114 (upstream side) of the valve body 1112. The clapper disk 1122 ispivotable between open (FIG. 5) and closed (FIG. 7) positions. As shouldbe understood by those of ordinary skill in the art, in the closedposition of the clapper disk 1122, the clapper disk 1122 sealinglyengages the valve seat 1120 and prevents the flow of liquidtherethrough, and in the open position of the clapper disk 1122, theclapper disk 1122 is pivoted away from the valve seat 1120 and liquid ispermitted to flow from the inlet end 1114 to the outlet end 1116.

As shown best in FIGS. 9 and 10, a positioner is indicated generally at1142 and includes a U-shaped arm 1144 rotatably supported in the valvebody 1112. In the illustrated embodiment, the U-shaped arm 1144 includesa first section 1144 a, a second section 1144 b and a third section 1144c positioned in series. The first and third sections 1144 a, 1144 c arelinearly extending. The second section 1144 b includes a first arm 1144b 1 extending generally transversely from the first section 1144 a, asecond arm 1144 b 2 extending generally transversely from the thirdsection 1144 c and a third arm 1144 b 3 extending between the first andsecond arms 1144 b 1, 1144 b 2. The second section 1144 b defines thebight of the U-shaped arm 1144.

The U-shaped arm 1144 mounts a roller 1146 in the center of the bightthereof. The roller 1146 is aligned with a load bearing ridge 1125 alongthe centerline of the output end/downstream side of the clapper metalbody 1123 opposite the side facing skirt 1128. As shown, the clapperdisk 1122 and the positioner 1142 are part of a valve control mechanism1140 subassembly including the valve actuator assembly 1150, supportedon a mounting plate 1160. The mounting plate 1160 also covers the largeopening 1113 provided in the sidewall of the body 1112. A gasket 1162seals the cover 1160 with the valve body 1112.

One end of the U-shaped arm 1144 distal to the plate 1160 (i.e., thefree end of the third section 1144 c) is journaled in a blind bore (notshown) in a boss 1145 (FIGS. 3, 4) of the valve body 1112 opposite themounting plate 1160. One end of the pin 1124 supporting the clapper disk1122 is similarly supported, but in an internal boss (not depicted). Theopposing end of the U-shaped arm 1144 (i.e., the free end of the firstsection 1144 a) extends into the transmission housing 1154, through themounting plate 1160, and forms the output shaft of the transmission1152. The remaining end of the pin 1124 is journaled into the cover1160.

A torsion spring 1126 (only shown in FIG. 10 for clarity of theremaining components) is also provided on the pin 1124 to bias theclapper disk 1122 against the seat 1120, i.e., the closed position. Inthe illustrated embodiment, the assembly 1110 is depicted as it would beinstalled in a vertical supply riser with upward water flow. In theabsence of a pressure differential, the weight of the clapper disk 1122would keep the clapper disk 1122 pivoted to the closed position. Thetorsion spring 1126 biases the clapper disk 1122 to the closed positionagainst the seat 1120 so that the assembly 1110 might be installedhorizontally in any angular position or inverted for water flow in theopposite direction. With water flow through the body 1112, for example,from activation of one or more downstream sprinklers, the pressuredifferential across the clapper disk forces the clapper disk 1122 awayfrom the seat 1120.

The roller 1146 is supported on the U-shaped arm 1144 such that itremains in contact with the load bearing ridge 1125 throughout theentire ninety degree movement of the arm 1144. Referring to FIG. 6, itcan be seen that with the clapper disk 1122 in the fully closedposition, the centerline of the ends of the arm 1144 lie above thecenterline of the roller 1146 and above the transverse centerline of theseal 1130 and the seat 1120 so that there is no moment arm on the roller1146 or the clapper disk 1122. As is also shown in FIG. 6, the bores1127 a through each of the clapper support arms 1127 that receive pin1124 are preferably oval in shape so that the clapper disk 1122 can bevertically displaced and the seal 1130 compressed against the seat 1120.

Valves for fire protection systems are normally rated at 175 or 300 psioperating pressure. To obtain testing laboratory approvals for fireprotection systems, the valves are cycled repeatedly at twice the ratedpressure for leakage. The seat of an eight inch valve has a surface areaof slightly more than two hundred square inches. Six hundred psi for athree hundred psi rating, imposes a load on two hundred square inches ofabout thirty-thousand pounds. The worm gear transmission 1152 of thevalve actuator assembly 1150 provides the necessary mechanical advantageto manually open and close the valve under such conditions.

When the control valve assembly 1110 is employed in a fire protectionsprinkler system, the valve body 1112 is filled with water andpressurized at all times. Under normal operation, water pressuredifferential across the clapper disk 1122 maintains the clapper disk1122 in the closed position, i.e., water pressure is greater on theoutlet end 1116 than the inlet end 1114. A decrease in the waterpressure on the outlet end 1116 (such as by a sprinkler opening) pivotsthe clapper disk 1122 to the open position, for water to flow throughthe valve body 1112 from the inlet end 1114, past the open clapper disk1122 and to the outlet end 1116.

Under certain circumstances, the clapper disk 1122 may be required to bemanually shut, e.g., for maintenance purposes. The hand wheel 1156 isoperatively connected with the clapper disk 1122 through the U-shapedarm 1144. Namely, the hand wheel 1156 of the control arm 1155 isoperatively coupled via the transmission 1152 within the transmissionhousing 1154, to the U-shaped arm 1144. Manual clockwise andcounterclockwise rotation of the hand wheel 1156 rotates the U-shapedarm 1144 through ninety degrees, via the transmission 1152, between agenerally horizontal orientation (FIGS. 7-9) and a generally verticalorientation (FIGS. 6, 10).

In the horizontal position, the U-Shaped arm 1144 is rotated out of theoperational range of movement of the clapper disk 1122, such that theclapper disk 1122 is free to move between the open and closed positionsthereof, depending on the pressure differential across the clapper disk1122. In the vertical orientation, the U-shaped arm 1144 engages theclapper disk 1122 and orients the clapper disk 1122 into the closedposition thereof, irrespective of pressure differential within the valvebody 1112. In the vertical orientation of the U-shaped arm 1144, theroller 1146 engages the load bearing ridge 1125 to move the clapper disk1122 into the closed position thereof. Therefore, a user can selectivelyrotate the hand wheel 1156 to move the U-shaped arm 1144 between thehorizontal and vertical positions, to manually close the clapper disk1122 when required.

FIGS. 5-8 also show further details and operation of the water flowswitch assembly 1170 mounted to threaded bore 1138. The assembly 1170includes a pivotally mounted actuator arm 1174, one end 1174 a of whichextends into the valve body 1112 and the other end 1174 b of which movesthe actuator 1177 of a momentary electrical switch 1178, the contacts ofwhich are indicated diagrammatically at 1178 a. The switch actuator 1177is normally biased away from the contacts 1178 a to the position shownin FIG. 5 by a tensioned spring 1179. A conventional seal 1176 separatesthe interior of the housing 1172 from that of the valve body 1112.

The water flow switch assembly 1170 is an integral part of the valveassembly 1110 and operates in conjunction with the clapper disk 1122.FIG. 5 shows the valve in the tripped or clapper fully open conditionand the switch actuator 1177 pulled away from contacts 1178 a by spring1179. FIG. 6 depicts rotation of the positioner arm 1144 ninety degrees(by operation of the valve actuator 1150) to force the clapper disk 1122shut, sealed against the seat 1120. In moving the clapper disk 1122, end1174 a of the pivot arm 1174 is contacted by an extended lip area 1123 aof the clapper disk 1122 and pivoted downwardly in the figure to pivotthe remaining end 1174 b of the arm upwardly and switch actuator 1177against contacts 1178 a. When the valve is stable closed, with equalpressure on both sides of the clapper disk 1122 or higher pressure onthe downstream side, the positioner arm 1144 is rotated counterclockwisefrom the FIG. 6 position to the FIG. 7 position to permit checkoperation of the clapper disk 1122.

FIG. 8 illustrates initial tripping of the check valve caused by apressure differential across the clapper disk 1122, for example fromactivation of a sprinkler head connected with the output end 1116 of thevalve body 1112. The skirt 1128 is shaped to clear the inner walls ofthe seat 1120 when the clapper disk 1122 is opening and closing and tofurther elevate the clapper disk 1122 to a height which permits thepivot arm 1174 to rotate and change the state of switch 1178 when flowthrough the valve is at least ten gallons per minute (10 GPM), a minimumflow required by fire codes and testing laboratories, but not change theswitch state at a flow rate less than four gallons per minute (4 GPM).This is accomplished by shaping the skirt to restrict the water so thatwater flows or essentially flows past the skirt 1128 through narrowspaces formed between the seat 1120 and only portions of the perimeterof the skirt 1120, in particular, side edge portions of the skirt 1128between the distal and proximal edge portions of the skirt 1128 seen inthe cross sections in FIGS. 5-8, as the clapper disk 1122 rises. Up-downmovement of the end 1174 a of pivot arm 1174 of one-half inch or less issuggested and preferably only about one-eighth inch should be requiredto change the state of the switch 1178.

The signaling and any delay activation components of the flow switchassembly 1170 are conventional and omitted from the figures for clarity.It will be appreciated that those skilled in the art will know how tomodify and supplement the basic clapper-seat combination to provide ahydraulically powered alarm as well as dry pipe and deluge type firesprinkler system valves.

It will also be appreciated that modular assembly 1110 can be configuredas a stop-check type control valve without a flow switch and/or withoutthe test and drain components or as simply a swing type check valve withor without flow switch and/or test and drain accessories by replacingthe mounting plate with clapper disk 1122 and valve control mechanismwith a simple cover plate supporting the through pin which supports theclapper disk 1122. The flow switch assembly 1170 continues to work withthe clapper disk in a check valve configuration. Finally, the assemblycould be configured as a dedicated control valve by replacing the loadbearing ridge 1125 with a slotted ridge receiving roller 1146 on arm1144.

Typically, an installer/repair person (“fitter”) who wants to work on anexisting system with a paddle type flow switch, and who does not want toring the alarm bells and/or notify the monitoring station or FireDepartment, usually pulls the cover off of the water flow switchassembly and sticks a screwdriver or piece of cardboard to stop the flowswitch from activating while working on the system. This is not the mostdesirable method. Ideally, the fitter should go to the fire panel andput the panel in test mode and/or call the monitoring service and letthem know that work will be performed on the system. However, with acheck-close control valve of the present invention, the fitter needsonly to ‘close’ the control which will keep the flow switch fromoperating. In both scenarios a tamper switch (not shown) operatesindicating the control valve is closed but that is a local indication atthe fire panel without the extremely loud bells/sirens triggered by theflow switch which generally clears an entire building.

The invention is therefore a multipurpose valve assembly of modularconstruction with a single valve body provided for each code designatedpipe size and configured, as desired, as a simple swing-type checkvalve, a check valve with closure control feature (stop-check valve) oreven a dedicated control valve, any with or without a flow switch and/orwith or without test and drain components.

It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that changes could bemade to the embodiments described above without departing from the broadinventive concept thereof. For example, although the use of the presentinvention is disclosed as a valve assembly for fire protection sprinklersystems, it will be appreciated that the modular valve assemblies of thepresent invention would have wide application in the control andmonitoring of other fluids in other fields. It is understood, therefore,that this invention is not limited to the particular embodimentsdisclosed, but it is intended to cover modifications within the spiritand scope of the present invention, as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:
 1. A fire protection system comprising: at least one controlvalve assembly comprising: a valve body having an inlet end, an outletend, an endless valve seat therebetween and a clapper disk pivotablymounted within the valve body, the clapper disk being pivotable betweena closed position and an open position according to a pressuredifferential across the clapper disk, the clapper disk being in sealedengagement with the valve seat in the closed position thereof and theclapper disk being spaced away from the valve seat in the open positionthereof; a U-shaped arm rotatably supported in the valve body, theU-shaped arm comprising a first section, a second section and a thirdsection positioned in series, the first and third sections beinglinearly extending, the second section including a first arm extendinggenerally transversely from the first section, a second arm extendinggenerally transversely from the third section and a third arm extendingbetween the first and second arms to define the U-shaped arm, the secondsection defining a bight of the U-shaped arm, the U-shaped arm beingrotatable between a first position wherein the bight of the U-shaped armis positioned out of an operational range of movement of the clapperdisk such that the clapper disk is freely movable between the open andclosed positions thereof according to the pressure differential acrossthe clapper disk, and a second position wherein the bight of theU-shaped arm engages and maintains the clapper disk in the closedposition thereof irrespective of the pressure differential across theclapper disk; and a selectively rotatable control arm operativelycoupled with the U-shaped arm to move the U-shaped arm between the firstand second positions thereof; a wet standpipe, the inlet end of thevalve body being fluidly connected with the standpipe; and at least onesprinkler downstream of the at least one control valve assembly, the atleast one sprinkler being fluidly connected with the outlet end of thevalve body.
 2. The fire protection system of claim 1, wherein the valvebody includes an opening in a sidewall thereof, the opening being sizedand dimensioned to clear passage of each of the valve seat, the clapperdisk and the U-shaped arm therethrough.
 3. The fire protection system ofclaim 2, wherein the valve body further comprises a mounting plateremovably and sealingly mountable on the valve body to cover theopening.
 4. The fire protection system of claim 3, wherein the at leastone control valve assembly further comprises a transmission positionedoutside of the valve body, operatively coupling the control arm and theU-shaped arm, a first end of U-shaped arm extending outside of the valvebody and into the transmission for operative coupling with the controlarm.
 5. The fire protection system of claim 4, wherein a second end ofthe U-shaped arm is journaled in a sidewall of the valve body oppositethe mounting plate, and the opposing first end of the U-shaped armextends outside of the valve body through the mounting plate and intothe transmission.
 6. The first protection system of claim 1, wherein theU-shaped arm is removably supported in the valve body.
 7. The fireprotection system of claim 1, wherein the U-shaped arm rotatessubstantially 90 degrees between the first and second positions.
 8. Thefire protection system of claim 1, wherein the valve body furthercomprises a bore in a sidewall thereof, and the at least one controlvalve assembly further comprises a water flow switch removably coupledthereto.
 9. The fire protection system of claim 1, wherein the valvebody further comprises a bore in a sidewall thereof, and the at leastone control valve assembly further comprises a pressure gauge removablycoupled thereto.
 10. The fire protection system of claim 1, wherein thevalve body further comprises a bore in a sidewall thereof, and the atleast one control valve assembly further comprises a test and drainassembly removably coupled thereto.
 11. The fire protection system ofclaim 1, wherein the control arm comprises a manually rotatable handwheel.
 12. The fire protection system of claim 1, wherein the at leastone control valve assembly further comprises a torsion spring biasingthe clapper disk into the closed position.
 13. The fire protectionsystem of claim 1, wherein the clapper disk is angularly spaced awayfrom the valve seat in the open position thereof.
 14. A control valveassembly comprising: a valve body having an inlet end, an outlet end, anendless valve seat therebetween and a clapper disk pivotably mountedwithin the valve body, the clapper disk being pivotable between a closedposition and an open position according to a pressure differentialacross the clapper disk, the clapper disk being in sealed engagementwith the valve seat in the closed position thereof and the clapper diskbeing spaced away from the valve seat in the open position thereof; aU-shaped arm rotatably supported in the valve body, the U-shaped armcomprises a first section, a second section and a third sectionpositioned in series, the first and third sections being linearlyextending, the second section including a first arm extending generallytransversely from the first section, a second arm extending generallytransversely from the third section and a third arm extending betweenthe first and second arms to define the U-shaped arm, the second sectiondefining a bight of the U-shaped arm, the U-shaped arm being rotatablebetween a first position wherein the bight of the U-shaped arm ispositioned out of an operational range of movement of the clapper disksuch that the clapper disk is freely movable between the open and closedpositions thereof according to the pressure differential across theclapper disk, and a second position wherein the bight of the U-shapedarm engages and maintains the clapper disk in the closed positionthereof irrespective of the pressure differential across the clapperdisk; and a selectively rotatable control arm operatively coupled withthe U-shaped arm to move the U-shaped arm between the first and secondpositions thereof.
 15. The control valve assembly of claim 14, whereinthe valve body includes an opening in a sidewall thereof, the openingbeing sized and dimensioned to clear passage of each of the valve seat,the clapper disk and the U-shaped arm therethrough.
 16. The controlvalve assembly of claim 15, wherein the valve body further comprises amounting plate removably and sealingly mountable on the valve body tocover the opening.
 17. The control valve assembly of claim 16, furthercomprising a transmission positioned outside of the valve body,operatively coupling the control arm and the U-shaped arm, a first endof U-shaped arm extending outside of the valve body and into thetransmission for operative coupling with the control arm.
 18. Thecontrol valve assembly of claim 17, wherein a second end of the U-shapedarm is journaled in a sidewall of the valve body opposite the mountingplate, and the opposing first end of the U-shaped arm extends outside ofthe valve body through the mounting plate and into the transmission. 19.The control valve assembly of claim 14, further comprising a torsionspring biasing the clapper disk into the closed position.
 20. Thecontrol valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the U-shaped arm rotatessubstantially 90 degrees between the first and second positions.
 21. Thecontrol valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the valve body furthercomprises a bore in a sidewall thereof, and a water flow switch isremovably coupled thereto.
 22. The control valve assembly of claim 14,wherein the valve body further comprises a bore in a sidewall thereof,and a test and drain assembly is removably coupled thereto.
 23. Thecontrol valve assembly of claim 14, wherein the control arm comprises amanually rotatable hand wheel.
 24. The control valve assembly of claim14, wherein the clapper disk is angularly spaced away from the valveseat in the open position thereof.
 25. The control valve assembly ofclaim 14, wherein the U-shaped arm is removably supported in the valvebody.
 26. A control valve assembly comprising: a valve body having aninlet end, an outlet end, an endless valve seat therebetween and aclapper disk pivotably mounted within the valve body, the clapper diskbeing pivotable between a closed position and an open position accordingto a pressure differential across the clapper disk, the clapper diskbeing in sealed engagement with the valve seat in the closed positionthereof and the clapper disk being spaced away from the valve seat inthe open position thereof; a U-shaped arm rotatably supported in thevalve body, the U-shaped arm being rotatable between a first positionwherein a bight of the U-shaped arm is positioned out of an operationalrange of movement of the clapper disk such that the clapper disk isfreely movable between the open and closed positions thereof accordingto the pressure differential across the clapper disk, and a secondposition wherein the bight of the U-shaped arm engages and maintains theclapper disk in the closed position thereof irrespective of the pressuredifferential across the clapper disk, wherein the U-Shaped arm includesa roller mounted to the bight thereof, the roller being aligned with aload bearing ridge of the clapper disk to engage the load bearing ridgeand pivot the clapper disk from the open position to the closed positionthereof during rotation of the U-shaped arm from the first position tothe second position thereof; and a selectively rotatable control armoperatively coupled with the U-shaped arm to move the U-shaped armbetween the first and second positions thereof